Steam-engine



(No Model.) 7

W. M.,HENDERSON.

STEAM ENGINE. No 248,096. I Patented Oct. 11,1881.

flit 2 8i fibvenivr:

N. FEI'ERS. mlomgn n her. wadlingluu. 0.0

- 1 U IT D STATES PATENT QFFI E.

WILLIAM M. HENDERSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,096, dated October11, 1881. Application tiled March 11, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. HENDER- SON, ot' the city of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSteam-Engines for High Speeds, which is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of the general arrangement of the engine, showingthe disposition of the moving parts. Fig. 2 is. a longitudinalelevation, and Fig. 3- a plan, of the same.

This invention is intended to apply to all reciprocating engines runningat high speeds, more particularly to engines to be used for runningdynamo-machines for the electric light. A photometer test of theelectric light invariably shows all the pulsations and inaccuracies ofspeed of the engine used for driving the dynamo-electric machine, in amanner causing afiickering of the light. It is therefore of vitalimportance,in this connectiomthat the engine should run with as littlevariation of speed as possible, and that its motion should becommunicated in a direct manner to the dynamomachine. To which end Ipropose to divide the work to be performed between two distinct engines,each the counterpart of the other, and each made to operate in precisecontrary direction to the other in the same plane, comm'unicating theircombined force to separate cranks arranged diametrically opposite eachother and equidistant on each side of the center of revolution and bymaking the cylinder of short stroke in proportion to the diameter, to beenabled to run to such a speed that the engine may drive thedynamo-machine direct, without belting or gearing.

A A are two steam-cylinders, firmly secured to a box bed-plate, B, asshown. This bedplate, as will be seen, carries in a most coinpact mannerthe cross-head guides and shaft pillow-block. O is a return crank-shaftlaid in the bearings D D, the crank-pins of which are connected rightand left by short connecting-rods E E with the pistonsF F. Traversingthe steam-cylinders G G are ,the cross heads, playing in the guides H H.Two balance-wheels are shown, 11. The steam-chests are marked K K, theslide-valves in the interior of which are of the ordinary D pattern,

at a high rate of speed produces most violent vibrations, which, thoughabsorbed to a great extent by the fly-wheel, framing, and foundation ofthe engine, yet are'quite apparent when subjected to a photometer testas to the constancy of the light produced by it; and any means which canbe employed to .counteract this serious defect in existing motorsemployed to run dynamo-electric machines is of the utmost consequence atthe present time, when the electriclight is receivin gso much attention.The oscillation complained of I have traced to two separate causes,becomingmanifest in two distinct forms-horizontal concussion andvertical concussion. The first is due (engine being consideredhorizontal) to the momentum of the reciprocating masses of the piston,piston-rod, and cross-head, impelled by the force of the steam, havingto be annihilated at the termination of each forward and each backwardstroke of the engine. The other form of vibration is produced by theeccentric swinging of the cranks and connecting-rods. The absolutecounteraction of the forward and backward movement I have found bydirectexperiment requires corresponding weights under similarcircumstances moving in adverse direetions to those creating this formof vibration,and the absolute counteraction of the upand-down movementis to have corresponding weights moving through similar space directlyopposite to the cause of vibration, as represented in the accompanyingdrawings.

, Itwillbeobservedthatwhenthepistonof one engine moves to the right thatof the other engine moves to the left, the effect of the one and all itsconnections counterbalancing precisely theeiiect of the other and allits connections, and which remains true for every fractional part of thestroke and revolution of the engine. It will also be seen that while theconnecting-rod and crank of engine No. 1 is swinging downward theconnecting-rod and crank of engine ,No. 2 is swinging upward, eachmaintaining the same relative eccentric effect at all times on oppositesides of the center of revolution,

the action of the one neutralizing the vibratory effect of the other.

1 am aware that balanced engines have been proposed in which two or morepistons have been arranged to work in a single cylinder, said pistonsworking cranks in contrary directions, and I disclaim the use of asingle cylinder with pistons in it, where the piston rod or rods of oneor more pistons pass through a stuffing-box or sleeve, or stufiing-boxesin the other piston or pistons; but

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of two separate and distinct engines,1 and 2,with areturn-crank, the moving parts of either engine arranged in the sameplane to balance each other at all parts of the stroke and revolution ofthe shaft, substantially as set forth.

tiallyin the manner and for the purpose herein 0 described.

WILLIAM M. HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

H. R. SHUL'rz, J. M. HENDERSON.

